Keith Vandervort
ELY – Travelers entering Ely on Highway 169 this fall could be able to stop into a brand new visitor center in the shadow of a freshly-painted water tower emblazoned with the city’s new logo.
Council members Tuesday authorized soliciting construction bids for the centerpiece of a multi-million-dollar redevelopment project for the city’s west end, and gave the go ahead for the water tower repainting project despite exorbitant cost estimates.
As much as $3 million, in two separate state bonding allocations, aisallocated for what has been dubbed the “west end trailhead project.” The first phase, at $1.3 million, was completed last year and included infrastructure and road construction at the city’s west entrance.
Keith Vandervort
ELY – While indoor sports and team activities remain on hold because of public health concerns due to the coronavirus, flooding of the city-owned ice-skating rink has been ongoing for the past two weeks and city residents are sharpening their skates, locating their hats and mittens, and beginning to enjoy a popular outdoor winter activity.
So many Elyites are looking forward to participating in a “normal” activity outside of the house, that the city council here addressed the issue at the beginning of the month in anticipation of calls for the skating season to begin.
Mother Nature provided her own skating rinks this year on nearby lakes as the relative lack of snow left the ice mostly bare until some light snow earlier this week. And area residents have been taking advantage to spend time outdoors with friends and family.
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Ely council approves seven-percent hike in property tax levy Posted
Keith Vandervort
ELY – City Council members here approved a seven-percent increase in the 2021 tax levy this week on the heels of a Truth in Taxation public hearing that failed to generate even one interested community member.
City staff explained the 2021 budget and levy proposal at the state-mandated public hearing on Dec. 8 and council members gave their final approval during their last meeting of the year on Tuesday night.
The approved city tax is $1,892,300 for 2021, an increase of $123,800 over 2020.
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Pocket park plan part of downtown development Posted
Keith Vandervort
ELY - The city of Ely is developing a pocket park on a vacant lot previously occupied by the former Pamida building near the corner of 1st Avenue East and Chapman Street.
The project entails upgrading lighting, seating, landscaping, ADA sidewalks, a small stage for music events, a playground climbing feature and public WiFi. The lot is owned by the Ott family, who is partnering with the city to develop the new public community space on Ely’s main street.